Wax Moths And Bee Moths

Wax Moths and Bee Moths

Do you have moths with a large, long nose in your home?

Wax or bee moths are a common nuisance pest of wax-producing bees, especially the social bees, bumble bees and honey bees.

The wax or bee moth is not the problem; it’s the larvae that feed on the wax.

Bumble bees seem to be the insects most at risk, but honey bees can also be affected. Bees that nest above the ground, like tree bumble bees (Bombus hypnorum), are most commonly found to be affected.

As you can see from the image above, bee moths have a distinctive long nose. It’s probably not technically a nose, but for most people this is the simplest way to identify these moths, quickly and efficiently.

Where Do The Bee Moths In Your Home Come From?

Wax moths are active from April into late summer and can occasionally become a nuisance pest in peoples homes.

The reasons these moths suddenly appear in your home is a simple one. You have or have had a bees nest of some description in your home at some point in the past.

The moth activity normally only lasts six weeks, but the are an unsightly reminder that bees once inhabited the property.

It’s common to find bumble bees entering the under-floor voids of our homes, where the bees nest and without causing any problems. However the risk remains, because at any time, even if the bees have left the nest, these moths will sneak in and lay eggs on the wax.

No effective means of mass control exists. Even if you thoroughly clean, so most people resolve themselves to living with this short and rare invasion of the moths.

Damage to wax products within your home could be at risk, but we have never seen this ourselves.

We would be delighted if you could share your experiences with this moth species with our other visitors.